ILTA Voices

The Importance of Education in Leadership

In this ILTA Radio episode, we discuss the importance of education in the context of communication and leadership. We provide pragmatic approaches to how and when it plays out in the legal industry by talking through real-world scenarios from both the law firm and service provider perspectives.
Speakers:Ricky Brooman is a Litigation Support Project Manager at Saul Ewing LLP. He consults to internal and external clients on best practices for ediscovery and information governance, and manages all phases of the EDRM for litigation matters. Ricky is also a member of ILTA's Business Management Content Coordinating Team and mentoring program.
Kris Wasserman is a Senior Consultant and Vice President with D4, overseeing a team of discovery engineers specializing in advisory and workflow solutions for corporate legal, risk and compliance departments on litigation readiness and discovery workflow planning. Kris has over a decade of hands-on experience in the ediscovery space and has been involved in the launch of several technology startup service providers. He consults corporate clients on proactive measures they can take by leveraging cloud solutions to reduce spend when managing data that may be used as evidence in internal investigations.

Ediscovery Mergers and Acquisitions

Lately, legal tech news has been flooded with a number of ediscovery mergers and acquisitions (M&A). Just to name a few:
Epiq purchased by DTI investors
Clearwell acquired by Symantec
Equivio acquired by Microsoft
Content Analyst acquired by kCura
Recommind by OpenText
RAVN by iManage
Lighthouse and Discovia
In this ILTA Radio episode, we interview a panel of ILTA members from law firms and legal departments who share their insights, lessons learned and best practices for dealing with ediscovery M&A. We cover cases where one service provider is acquired by another provider and product acquisitions where a core application is acquired by another enterprise software provider, a product is acquired and remains available and when the product is abandoned.
Interviewer:Catherine McPherson - Litigation Management Consultant, Bartlit Beck Herman Palenchar & Scott LLP
Panelists:Dera Nevin - Director of eDiscovery, Proskauer Rose LLPDuane Lites - Director, Litigation Support, Jackson Walker L.L.P.Bonnie Boudreaux - Practice Support Coordinator, Jones Walker LLPDeanna Blomquist - Senior Manager - IT/eDiscovery, Dish Network

The Future of IT Staffing

For everyone except Doctor Who, time marches on. How is that future impacting the skill sets that law firm technologists need to have? Listen to a conversation on current and future skill sets and how people, process and *new* technology is impacting the delivery of legal services.
Speakers:Jeffrey Brandt is the Chief Information Officer at the law firm of Jackson Kelly PLLC and has over 30 years of experience in the field of legal automation. Jeffrey is also editor of the popular PinHawk Law Technology Daily Digest, a respected thought leader in the legal technology community and a frequent educational speaker at industry conferences.
Mitch Owens is the CTO at Gilbert + Tobin and leads the firm’s technology function. He has held senior roles in the global banking and professional services industries for many years. With a background that is predominately outside legal Mitch is able to provide a different, and interesting, slant on technology challenges that face legal firms today. The focus for Mitch, and his team, is clients - internal or external. He is constantly evaluating against the expected and looking to give them advantages. He has a diverse understanding of business functions and processes allowing for creative technology solutions.
Luke Schnoebelen manages technical training and e-learning development for his firm. He is solidifying a development process to improve the technology expertise for all firm employees, associates and partners. Luke also assists with all facets of in-house CLE, technology adoption and general promotion of process improvements.

Learning Management System Deep Dive Series - Reporting

Reporting is one of the most important and sometimes frustrating features of a LMS. Because firms have different needs, it can sometimes be difficult to get exactly what you need. Even with the data in hand, it may require skilled Excel manipulation. In this podcast, your ILTA panelists share great ideas and insights on how they are using reporting and getting at the data they need. We even touch on connecting the dots between your LMS data and actual performance data.
Moderator:Michelle Spencer's skills reside at the intersection of people, processes, technology and learning. She can translate technology for non-technical people and manage projects by getting groups connected and communicating, enabling them to work effectively towards their end goal. Michelle is adept at managing learning and IT projects from both the technical and human perspectives. She uses her knowledge -- gained from three decades spent on both legal and IT project teams -- to help your team.
Speakers:Sean McGinty is the Senior Learning and Development Engineer at Carlton Fields, where his focus is on instructional design, audio/video production, LMS management and instructor lead training. He has worked in legal for over nine years and has over 20 years of experience in learning and development, spanning multiple industry groups. Sean holds several certifications in instructional systems design and learning and development software packages.
Claire Morris is an IT Training Manager for a leading international law firm. An accomplished professional with over 15 years of legal technology experience, she is passionate about developing the technical skills of all staff members. Claire creates new and innovative learning programs to deliver essential skills and make the best use of firm technology. She understands the unique culture of a law firm and that providing a full variety of learning methods is key to creating an environment where all can learn.
Lida Pinkham has over 20 years of experience leading technology learning in industries including higher education, libraries, banking and law firms. Since joining Ice Miller in 2014, she has led the technology training team to expand technology learning to a variety of formats, partnered with HR to develop a learning and assessment program for secretaries, and increased usage of learning materials and the LMS by over 200 percent, developing a culture where all are empowered to learn and develop. A Microsoft Office Certified Specialist with a Master of Education, Lida is involved in the Association for Talent Development, organizes a monthly legal technology trainer lunch and is a member of the Midwest Legal Technology Trainers steering committee.
Recorded on 2-27-17

Physical Security: Is It an Afterthought?

We discuss how physical security tends to be overlooked while we focus so much time and energy on the technology side of security. Keeping your firm’s people and assets safe can rely on good physical security planning and design.Speakers:Heath Stanley is the SVP of Information Security. He holds the CISA, CISSP and C|CISO certifications. Heath has managed technology governance consulting for Traveling Coaches Inc. since 2006. His previous experience includes residential lending and process improvement, and he is a subject matter expert in Information Security Governance and Vendor Management.David Tremont.  With 32 years of experience in Networking and Security, Mr. Tremont started his career as a Cryptologist Technician in the U.S. Navy in 1974.  Responsible for intercepting and decrypting Chinese and Russian radio transmissions for Fleet Commanders. Mr. Tremont has consulted with many corporate entities as well as law firms in designing and testing networks on a global scale, ensuring security protocols and standards were key factors in their implementation.  He has also participated as a consultant in assisting public companies to ensure compliance in Sarbanes-Oxley, HIPPA and has been involved in achieving ISO 9000 and ISO 27000 certifications for Oil & Gas Service companies.Currently Mr. Tremont serves on the Technology Committee and Security Committee for Bracewell LLP assisting Senior Management to ensure compliance in Cyber and Physical security initiatives and is responsible for the monitoring and incident response of day to day security and network operations for the firm. Recorded on 1-26-17

A Discussion on Advancing Legal Project Management

Description: What is all the talk about legal project management? This discussion, Q&A style, dives in to the ins and outs of project management (PM) and legal project management(LPM) from the beginning phase of looking to implement it in your business or law firm. Why is legal project management important for every organization to take stock in and implement to increase productivity? How can LPM help you and your business become more efficient in your daily workflows and produce greater work product?
Speakers:Jinni Zieleniewski is a Litigation Support Specialist with the ediscovery andlitigation support group at KMK. Her responsibilities include managing discovery evidence throughout the litigation life cycle, providing electronic document review management and designing and generating electronic document production deliverables in a cost-effective and value-added manner. A member of the information technology group working exclusively in litigation and the ediscovery task force, Jinni bridges the gap between counsel and IT by helping litigation attorneys educate clients about proactive, compliant and cost-effective ediscovery.
Michael T. Clear is a Partner at Wiggin and Dana LLP, where his practice is focused on estate planning, estate and trust administration, probate litigation and business succession planning. Michael serves on the firm's client service delivery task force, which is leading the implementation of legal project management at the firm. He is a co-chair of the Probate and Estates Section of the Fairfield County Bar Association and is a member of the board of directors of the Connecticut Chapter of the Exit Planning Exchange (CT XPX).
Recorded on 1-10-17

Learning Management System Deep Dive Series - Course Scheduling

Description: Because it is one of the main functions of an LMS, we're looking at course scheduling this month. In this podcast, we'll touch on everything from developing a strategy on how much and when to offer classes, as well as the challenges with scheduling training virtually or across multiple offices. Do you segregate classes by role and what challenges or benefits has that presented with scheduling? Are other departments in your firm using the LMS for scheduling? Finally, how do you promote or communicate your class schedule?
Moderator: Michelle Spencer's skills reside at the intersection of people, processes, technology and learning. She can translate technology for non-technical people and manage projects by getting groups connected and communicating, enabling them to work effectively towards their end goal. Michelle is adept at managing learning and IT projects from both the technical and human perspectives. She uses her knowledge -- gained from three decades spent on both legal and IT project teams -- to help your team. Contact Michelle at michelle@legallearningnetwork.com.
Participants:Sean McGinty is the Senior Learning and Development Engineer at Carlton Fields, where his focus is on instructional design, audio/video production, LMS management and instructor lead training. He has worked in legal for over nine years and has over 20 years of experience in learning and development, spanning multiple industry groups. Sean holds several certifications in instructional systems design and learning and development software packages.
Claire Morris is an IT Training Manager for a leading international law firm. An accomplished professional with over 15 years of legal technology experience, she is passionate about developing the technical skills of all staff members. Claire creates new and innovative learning programs to deliver essential skills and make the best use of firm technology. She understands the unique culture of a law firm and that providing a full variety of learning methods is key to creating an environment where all can learn.
Lida Pinkham has over 20 years of experience leading technology learning in industries including higher education, libraries, banking and law firms. Since joining Ice Miller in 2014, she has led the technology training team to expand technology learning to a variety of formats, partnered with HR to develop a learning and assessment program for secretaries, and increased usage of learning materials and the LMS by over 200 percent, developing a culture where all are empowered to learn and develop. A Microsoft Office Certified Specialist with a Master of Education, Lida is involved in the Association for Talent Development, organizes a monthly legal technology trainer lunch and is a member of the Midwest Legal Technology Trainers steering committee.
Recorded on 12-19-16

ILTA Radio - Ask the Expert: The Ins and Outs of Professional Development and Leadership - Scott Christensen

As we enter and rise through the ranks of our organizations, we face the opportunities and challenges afforded by two separate yet interlaced aspects of employment: professional development, bettering ourselves and accomplishing goals, and leadership, the responsibility of finding ways to best serve those whom we manage and help them accomplish their goals.
 
To explore this further, we asked three of your ILTA peers to share their experiences, advice and tips. Read the article that summarizes all three perspectives in the Winter 2016 Peer to Peer. 
Featured in this episode: Scott Christensen, Senior Associate at Olenick & Associates, speaks about professional development. 

ILTA Radio - Ask the Expert: The Ins and Outs of Professional Development and Leadership - Charles Baldwin

As we enter and rise through the ranks of our organizations, we face the opportunities and challenges afforded by two separate yet interlaced aspects of employment: professional development, bettering ourselves and accomplishing goals, and leadership, the responsibility of finding ways to best serve those whom we manage and help them accomplish their goals.
 
To explore this further, we asked three of your ILTA peers to share their experiences, advice and tips. Read the article that summarizes all three perspectives in the Winter 2016 Peer to Peer. 
Featured in this episode: Charles Baldwin, Shareholder at Ogletree Deakins, speaks about leadership.

ILTA Radio - Ask the Expert: The Ins and Outs of Professional Development and Leadership - Brian Donato

As we enter and rise through the ranks of our organizations, we face the opportunities and challenges afforded by two separate yet interlaced aspects of employment: professional development, bettering ourselves and accomplishing goals, and leadership, the responsibility of finding ways to best serve those whom we manage and help them accomplish their goals.
To explore this further, we asked three of your ILTA peers to share their experiences, advice and tips. Read the article that summarizes all three perspectives in the Winter 2016 Peer to Peer. 
Featured in this episode: Brian Donato, Chief Information Officer at Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP, speaks about leadership. 

The Evolution of the Business of Law: The Legal Supplier Ecosystem

Description: Twenty years ago, law firms handled most of a company's legal needs. The internet revolution and the great recession have both caused law departments to question this traditional model, and spawned a dizzying array of legal technologies and alternative legal service providers. By 2020, leading companies will have assembled a variety of these solutions into integrated ecosystems for delivering legal services with greater quality, efficiency and flexibility. In this podcast, two leading commentators share their views on what these ecosystems will look like.
Speakers:Liam Brown helps general counsel and law firm leaders design and implement successful strategies to improve effectiveness and efficiency. In 2011, he launched Elevate, a business of law provider of strategy, operations, technology and talent to legal departments and law firms worldwide. The company has won numerous awards and honors, most recently ranking #53 on the 2016 Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Private Companies list. Liam was previously the founder, president and CEO of Integreon, Inc., a global LPO he led to annual sales of $150 million before selling his stake to private equity investors. Prior to Integreon, he was the president, COO and co-founder of a pioneering Web 1.0 virtual data room technology company (now Merrill DataSite), which he sold in 2001. Liam is a frequent speaker and writer on trends in the legal sector, an active investor in emerging legal technologies and an executive coach for startup founders.
Bill Mooz has over 30 years of experience in helping law departments, law firms and businesses improve their operational efficiency and profitability. After graduating from law school, Bill clerked for Judge Stephen Williams on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit, then joined Holland & Hart, LLP where he co-founded and managed the firm's office in Boulder, CO. He moved in-house in 1997, serving as deputy general counsel in charge of legal support for a multi-billion dollar BU at Sun Microsystems, and later headed M&A diligence and integration and contracting infrastructure for VMware. In these positions, Bill has led multiple transformation projects involving contracting, M&A, joint ventures and license management. He also founded the Tech Lawyer Accelerator program at Colorado Law, which teaches the next generation of lawyers how to deliver accelerated value to clients in the high-tech industry.
Recorded on 11-28-16